Abstract
The purpose of this retrospective study was to quantify the three-dimensional knee and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during walking in young participants with different degrees of obesity and to identify the associated effects by stratifying the obese participants according to their BMI. Thirty-two young obese individuals (mean age 30.32 years) and 16 normal-weight age-matched individuals were tested using 3D gait analysis. Analysis of kinematic and kinetic data revealed significant differences in mechanics at knee and ankle joints in all the evaluated planes of movement. Compared to the healthy-weight participants, obese adults demonstrated less knee flexion, greater knee ab-adduction angle during the entire gait cycle and abnormalities at the knee flex-extension moment. At the ankle joint, reduced range of motion was observed together with a lower peak of ankle plantarflexor moment and power during terminal stance. These results provide insight into a potential pathway by which obesity predisposes a healthy adult for increased risk of osteoarthritis.
Highlights
Obesity elevates the risk for comorbidities, including musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain, soft tissue injury, tendinitis and plantar fasciitis [1,2,3]
The purpose of this retrospective study was to quantify the three-dimensional knee and ankle joint kinematics and kinetics during walking in young participants with different degrees of obesity and to identify the associated effects by stratifying the obese participants according to their BMI
At the ankle joint, reduced range of motion was observed together with a lower peak of ankle plantarflexor moment and power during terminal stance. These results provide insight into a potential pathway by which obesity predisposes a healthy adult for increased risk of osteoarthritis
Summary
Obesity elevates the risk for comorbidities, including musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis (OA), low back pain, soft tissue injury, tendinitis and plantar fasciitis [1,2,3]. With increased forces across weight-bearing joints, has been causally implicated in many of these musculoskeletal conditions [4]. Forces on joint surfaces are increased during weightbearing activities, including walking. Increased body mass may augment risk of damage and injury to joint surfaces and other musculoskeletal structures with repetitive loading during weightbearing activities. The characterization of the kinematics and kinetics of walking using gait analysis in obese individuals is often inconsistent. Increased peak hip joint flexion [16], extension [10] and sagittal plane range of motion (ROM) [5]
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